Rugby - Hands Off, Wattle!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Finbar, I hope that your wife's daughter has found a husband, you can't count on me anymore on this ground.

Quoi!?

Havak, can you tell me why the semi-final will be played at Leicester's home field and not at a neutral ground.

Because they're cheats!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar


Quoi!?

On this ground only, I swear !

Because they're cheats!

I was expecting an honest answer, thank you Finbar.

[child of Thor]

an interesting article ref the lions tour:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4420989.stm

I'm not sure what to make of it really. I would have thought most professional players would have their own insurence cover? Still the worst bit of this i feel is that surely its bad planning by the lions to take such a risk with injured players. There must be the strength in depth to not pick the guys who might not be up to it?

[finbar]

I find that report truly bizarre. I'd've thought the Lions were obliged to insure the players under the laws of workers compensation. They would be in this country. What do they mean by a payout on Wilko's knee bankrupting them? How could it if the player is insured? Are they saying they couldn't afford the premium on a proven dodgy body part like Wilko's knee? As in a pre-existing condition? Or that he would be uninsurable?

[Havak]

Havak, can you tell me why the semi-final will be played at Leicester's home field and not at a neutral ground.

It isn’t our home ground Tamerlin. It’s a good half a mile down the road. I’m minded to complain to ERC ltd about having to walk the extra distance.

It now will not be our home ground until the 2006/07 season.

But then how is this different to Stade Francais playing the 2001 Final and this years semi with Biarritz at Parc de Princes which is even closer to Stade Jean Bouin than Welford Road is to Walkers stadium?

The bottom line is that by beating the number one seeds Tigers took over their seeding and get the ‘home but neutral’ draw. Whether that is fair or not is a separate issue.

The Walkers Stadium holds 33,000, ERC ltd rules of participation require 25% of tickets made available to away fans – will Toulouse bring over 8000 fans? French sides are notorious for their fans not travelling in large numbers…

Read Tamerlin's very cryptic post. If it means what I think it means, I'd be surprised if you're suffering his malaise!

I’m definitely not suffering his malaise.

Still, it sounds like it's all coming to a head.

Hopefully. It certainly needs to as the current situation is harming England (a small factor compared to the turnip headed coach but a factor never the less).

Welcome to the professional era.

Amen to that! Our season tickets doubled in price the season the game went Professional – and prices have never looked back since.

I see the Perth franchise is making friends everywhere – poached the current Reds skip Mr Sharpe now?

Big weekend for the Aussie franchises? One away in RSA and the other two playing the also ran Kiwi franchises?

Tigers host Sale tomorrow – and following the Leeds result we could do with a five pointer. I have a feeling the lads heads may be elsewhere after Dublin though!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak

It isn’t our home ground Tamerlin. It’s a good half a mile down the road. I’m minded to complain to ERC ltd about having to walk the extra distance.

Half a mile!!! Definitely what can be called an "away" game. Sorry for complaining about a neutral ground.

It now will not be our home ground until the 2006/07 season.

Still a neutral ground then...

But then how is this different to Stade Francais playing the 2001 Final and this years semi with Biarritz at Parc de Princes which is even closer to Stade Jean Bouin than Welford Road is to Walkers stadium?

That is not the same thing at all!

The bottom line is that by beating the number one seeds Tigers took over their seeding and get the ‘home but neutral’ draw. Whether that is fair or not is a separate issue.

I didn't knew the rule was applying to the semi-finals.

The Walkers Stadium holds 33,000, ERC ltd rules of participation require 25% of tickets made available to away fans – will Toulouse bring over 8000 fans? French sides are notorious for their fans not travelling in large numbers…

I can't tell you though a game against the Tigers will always be very special.

I’m definitely not suffering his malaise.

This is a mild illness that would need to be spread to everybody.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
French sides are notorious for their fans not travelling in large numbers…

Only Toulouse, and only one very particular fan!

I see the Perth franchise is making friends everywhere – poached the current Reds skip Mr Sharpe now?

And Brendan Cannon from the Waratahs. Ben Tune, back from his two years of injury, is leaving Queensland for Perth too, apparently. Played well in some of the Reds' trials but hasn't been able to get a start. I hope he can come back because he was a beautiful player when fit. There are more signings to come. Naturally the established franchises are screaming blue murder. But they've known for twelve months that Perth would be coming looking. I think the established franchises assumed players wouldn't want to relocate that far west.

Big weekend for the Aussie franchises? One away in RSA and the other two playing the also ran Kiwi franchises?

Brumbies went down by a point to Highlanders. Vastly better effort than last week, and should have won. Mortlock's second game back from injury was more the Mortlock of old. In fact, on a strictly points basis, Radeke Samo cost his team the game. Highlanders had a penalty kick after the half time hooter. It hit the post and bounced back into play. Samo grabbed it, kicked to put it out of play and end the half, but flubbed the kick, giving it back to the Highlanders. They ended up earning another penalty. Three points they shouldn't have had.

Tigers host Sale tomorrow – and following the Leeds result we could do with a five pointer. I have a feeling the lads heads may be elsewhere after Dublin though!

Haven't they already won the premiership? They can take the rest of the season off.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
This is a mild illness that would need to be spread to everybody.

Yeah yeah, M'sieur Énigmatique!

[Havak]

I'd've thought the Lions were obliged to insure the players under the laws of workers compensation.

As an organisation registered and trading in the UK they do indeed have that duty of care.

Silly story – surely the main shirt sponsor for the tour might underwrite the insurance? They are after all one of the biggest insurance companies in Europe!!!

In any case the Lions Chief exec has moved to quash the story – everyone selected will be insured.

Of course PMI premiums do load heavily for pre-existing conditions so presumably sport insurance does too – ask whoever is insuring Lomu for NPC?

That is not the same thing at all!

He shoots, he scores.

I can't tell you though a game against the Tigers will always be very special.

They do tend to be games that live up to the hype – fingers crossed it does again. Not least because tickets are £40 a pop (60 Euros).

There’s a nice T shirt in the club shop I may buy for you – “Tigers to win, not Tolouse”.

A nice little English word play? Finbar probably wrote it?

I think the established franchises assumed players wouldn't want to relocate that far west.

They clearly got that one wrong.

Three points they shouldn't have had.

Send him to Falcons after all? They specialise in losing games. Poor Matt Burke looked an Island of talent in a sea of mediocrity in France.

Haven't they already won the premiership? They can take the rest of the season off.

Dally’s mob are biting on their heels now. Only four points clear of them – though sixteen points clear of the third place team Sale who we play tomorrow. Basically if we win tomorrow we are definitely in the play offs. With two game safter that (Sarries away and Wasps home) it could boil down to whoever wins in the Wasps game topping the final table (and therefore going straight into the final not playing off against third). It would add spice to the Wasps game and boy will Dayglo be fired up for it.

[Havak]

The status quo was maintained – Tigers got a bonus point win over Sale on Saturday and Wasps did the same against Saracens on Sunday.

Tigers can now finish no lower than second meaning we are in the play offs – and will either transit straight to the final or get a home semi-final.

The big surprise of the season for me is Andy Goode. He always had a solid kicking game but at the start of the season I would have said he was a solid club player and no more. He seems to have flourished under the wing of Pat Howard and is growing into a very complete ten. He had a commanding game against Sale – added to his kicking his passing has become quicker and far more accurate, he is selling dummies, finding gaps and even seems to have found a bit more pace.

I really do wonder if Clive may name him in the squad later on today.

[finbar]

Nope. He named the waste of space Hodgson instead. No real surprises in the squad as far as I can tell from this distance. Under the injury circumstances, he couldn't have picked Wilkinson, yet he says Wilkinson - and others - can still make the squad if they prove fitness. How? By increasing the size of the squad? By dropping someone?

I can't imagine that he's picked Neil Back for the mid-week games. I've said this before - as much as I admired Neil Back at the height of his powers, he was struggling at international level last time I saw him, and I hope this isn't one excursion too many.

[Havak]

It might be. The thing with Neil is where he was consistent five years ago he now seems to save the big performances for the big games. Against Leinster he seemed ten years younger. Can he do that three times in three weeks? Not sure...but him and Williams are the only natural opensides making the trip.

More good news for Tamerlin - Pelous apparently injured and out of the semi final against us.

[child of Thor]

they just had a news report on the radio that Sir Clive has chosen not to take Johnny Wilkinson on the lions tour. I'm going to see if i can find a link on the bbc or something to confirm.
Still, i dont think its a problem(apart for Wilko himself) as there are a number great no10's to replace him.

here we go:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4425357.stm

[Havak]

The problem is if there are some great number tens why haven't they been picked?

I see Stephen Jones, Ronan O'Gara and Charlie Hodgson. Jones is the current pick of that bunch but even he isn't 'great' as yet.

As far as the Wilkinson thing goes it is only kiddology - and I doubt Graham Henry is fooled by it. If he gets fit Jonny will travel - as Clive freely admits. So will Tindall I think.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
The problem is if there are some great number tens why haven't they been picked?

I see Stephen Jones, Ronan O'Gara and Charlie Hodgson. Jones is the current pick of that bunch but even he isn't 'great' as yet.

One of the weaknesses of this squad, I think, is the halves.

As far as the Wilkinson thing goes it is only kiddology - and I doubt Graham Henry is fooled by it. If he gets fit Jonny will travel - as Clive freely admits. So will Tindall I think.

I agree. So is the squad increased? Or is someone dropped to make way?

Clive has done exactly what you predicted - picked his tried and trusted and/or favourites. And he will live or die by it.